![\"Shoppers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JH_MEN_291225_TRAFFORD2.jpg\")
Shoppers claimed they had been stuck for a number of hours on Monday(Image: @freyjathorpex\/X)<\/p>\n“We have been advertising throughout the afternoon that all car parks are full”<\/p>\n
18:02, 29 Dec 2025Updated 18:03, 29 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Shoppers claimed they had been stuck for a number of hours on Monday(Image: @freyjathorpex\/X)<\/p>\n
The Trafford Centre has issued a response after shoppers reported becoming ‘stuck for hours’ in scenes of mayhem<\/a> in car parks at the major retail centre. Some visitors claimed they had been waiting for over two hours<\/a> trying to escape ‘gridlocked’ car parks.<\/p>\n Shoppers quickly took to social media after becoming trapped in their vehicles<\/a> when trying to leave, with long delays and queues reported to the nearby M60<\/a> junction. Pictures showed cars becoming wedged in long queues, with other motorists reportedly unable to manoeuvre out of spaces.<\/p>\n The Trafford<\/a> Centre has since responded, saying that usual busy footfall and traffic was worsened with a vehicle breakdown beside the nearby M60 and that they had been advertising that their car parks were full ‘throughout the afternoon’ on Monday (December 29).<\/p>\n Live traffic service Inrix also reported tailbacks on the M60. There was ‘very slow traffic’ throughout the afternoon on the anti-clockwise carriageway at Junction 10, with congestion backed up to Junction 15 at Swinton<\/a>.<\/p>\n One shopper, Katrina Cliffe, previously told the M.E.N of how she was forced to abandon her car and help with traffic management on Monday evening, guiding other motorists away from the large car park outside John Lewis. She said shoppers became ‘stuck in their cars’ with ‘every lane gridlocked’.<\/p>\n “We have been trying to get out of the car park since 3.45, so it’s been over an hour,” she said. “You just can’t get anywhere. The car behind us had already been stuck for 50 minutes when we pulled out. The roundabout outside is gridlocked too so nobody can move. It’s crazy how long it’s taken. It’s so bad.”<\/p>\n Posts from frustrated motorists were also shared across X on Monday. One user wrote: “Trafford centre is absolutely vile, it\u2019s hell trying to get out the car park,” to which another responded: “We have been trying to get off of the car park now for 2 hours.”<\/p>\n Posting a series of videos, another user fumed: “Wouldn\u2019t even bother trying to get in or out the trafford centre at this point, third hour sat here, appalling traffic management. Hope you\u2019re not expecting me to pay a parking fine.”<\/p>\n “Trapped at Trafford Centre. Not moved in 2 hours now trying to get out,” another posted.<\/p>\n In a statement to the M.E.N, the Trafford Centre said: “With a busy day at the centre and nearby retail parks, combined with a vehicle breakdown at Junction 9, roads in and out of the centre are more congested than usual. We have been advertising throughout the afternoon that all car parks are full.<\/p>\n![\"There](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JH_MEN_291225_TRAFFORD.jpg\")
There were queues in the large outdoor Regent car park (Image: Katrina Cliffe)<\/p>\n![\"Roads](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JH_MEN_291225_TRAFFORD1.jpg\")
Roads surrounding the retail centre had become gridlocked(Image: Katrina Cliffe)<\/p>\n